Page 17 - History of Germany

Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Germany, April 2008

In 2006 the vast majority of German households (37 million) had television reception, 50.5
percent of them by cable, 43.8 percent by satellite, and the rest by ground connection. The
Association of Public Broadcasting Corporations, known as ARD, is responsible for the “first”
German television channel, and ZDF (Second German Television) provides an alternative. ARD
also sponsors a third regional channel, including, for example, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (West
German Broadcasting) and Norddeutscher Rundfunk (North German Broadcasting). In 2003 the
number of VHF radio receivers was estimated at 225 million, which corresponds to 45 million
households with an average of five receivers. ARD manages Deutsche Welle, the only federal
public radio station in Germany. ARD and ZDF charge fees for access to public radio and
television. In 1984 public television began to compete with the private sector for the first time
when two privately funded television stations, Mainz-based SAT.1 and Cologne-based RTL,
went on the air. Various media companies have established other television channels available
via cable, satellite, and even over-the-air frequencies. The private networks do not charge fees
but rather depend on advertising for their revenues. In 2003 Germany had 276 private radio
stations with more than a half-million listeners.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Overview: Germany is a federal democracy, with rights guaranteed by the Basic Law, or
constitution. The federal government shares power with 16 states.

Branches of Government: The dual executive consists of a chancellor, who is head of
government, and a president, who is head of state. The chancellor is the leader of the party or
coalition of parties holding a majority of seats in the lower house of parliament. The president is
usually one of the senior leaders of the largest party in the lower house of parliament but is
nonetheless expected to be nonpartisan after assuming office. A cabinet officer, often from a
smaller coalition party, serves as vice chancellor. The Basic Law grants most executive authority
to the federal chancellor; the presidency is primarily a ceremonial post, and its occupant
represents the Federal Republic in international relations. The president is selected every five
years by secret ballot at a Federal Convention composed of members of the lower house of
parliament and delegates chosen by state legislatures. A president may serve no more than two
five-year terms. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who took office in November 2005, and President
Horst Köhler, who took office in July 2004, both belong to the Christian Democratic Union.

Two federal legislative bodies form the national parliament: the Bundesrat (Federal Council, or
upper house), consisting of 69 members appointed by state governments in proportion to the
population; and the Bundestag (Federal Diet, or lower house), the main legislative body,
consisting of 612 popularly elected members. The Bundestag is responsible for passing federal
laws, which are then implemented by the government. The chancellor, who is elected by the
Bundestag, functions as prime minister in the cabinet. The chancellor’s authority emanates from
the provisions of the Basic Law, which invests the chancellor with central executive authority,
and from his or her status as leader of the majority party or coalition in the Bundestag. The Basic
Law limits parliament’s control over the chancellor and the cabinet. Unlike most parliamentary
legislatures, the Bundestag cannot remove the chancellor simply with a vote of no-confidence.
The Basic Law allows only for a “constructive vote of no-confidence.” That is, the Bundestag

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